Jalapeno peppers can be either hot or mild, but either way they are flavorful, spicy, and delicious. They will add “zing” to any meal. If you want to try cooking with jalapeno peppers, this page is the place to load up on free recipes, and to get tips for cooking with jalapeno peppers. We also offer product reviews of jalapeno peppers you can buy at the store.

Free Organic Jalapeno Pepper Recipes

Colonial Beach Organic Salad – This basic salad is surprisingly yummy, considering that it was created from a hodgepodge of organic ingredients that were available at the nearest (make that the only) grocery store in the town where we were staying. If you have the luxury of a farmer’s market or health food store nearby, you’ll be able to add to this salad to make it even better.

Why Buy Organic Jalapeno Peppers?

In many locations, organic jalapeno peppers cost a bit more than their conventionally farmed counterparts. Are you wondering whether it’s worthwhile to spend the extra money on them?

The answer is definitely yes.

Here’s why:

Conventional farmers spray various hot pepper crops with more than 50 different pesticides, herbicides and chemicals — many of which are known to cause cancer and other serious health problems. You can visit this page at the Pesticide Action Network to verify this claim, and to find detailed information about pesticides and chemicals that are being sprayed on chili peppers in the state of California.

When you read this data, keep in mind that it only represents data from one state in one country — which means that it represents only a small part of the total globally. Think about the cumulative impact from other states and other countries around the world.

“For the third year, we have expanded the Dirty Dozen™ with a Plus category (http://ewg.org/foodnews/dirtydozenplus.php) to highlight two foods that contain trace levels of highly hazardous pesticides. Leafy greens – kale and collard greens – and hot peppers do not meet traditional Dirty Dozen™ ranking criteria but were frequently contaminated with insecticides that are toxic to the human nervous system. EWG recommends that people who eat a lot of these foods buy organic instead.”

Generally, we agree with this recommendation, with one important caveat: we think that if you eat any of these foods you should buy them organic — or grow them organically yourself. Why would you want to eat neurotoxins, or any poison, even in small amounts? Why take chances with your health? Buying organic will help you to avoid consuming these toxic contaminants.

Tips for Cooking With Jalapeno Peppers

There are a few cautions you need to be aware of when you get ready to cook with jalapeno peppers.

Avoid Burning Your Skin:

Wash your hands frequently when cooking with jalapeno peppers. Most of us know to wash our hands before preparing food. When cooking with jalapeno peppers, you’ll also want to wash your hands after you prepare the food. Jalapeno peppers contain a substance known as Capsaicin that can cause a painful burning sensation after it comes in contact with human eyes or skin. Do not touch your face or rub your eyes while you are working with jalapeno peppers. It is especially important not to use the bathroom unless you’ve washed your hands first. (Of course, it goes without saying that you’ll want to wash your hands again after you’ve finished in the bathroom, too.) Plain water will not be sufficient to remove the Capsaicin oils from your hands after you’ve touched the insides of a jalapeno pepper; you will need to use soap or detergent.

Wear Kitchen-Friendly Gloves When Cutting Up Jalapeno Peppers:

Wear either latex gloves or rubber gloves when you dice your jalapeno peppers. Gloves will protect your hands, but keep in mind that you will still need to make an effort not to touch your face, eyes or skin when wearing the gloves. Wash the gloves thoroughly with soap and water after you are finished using them for this purpose.

Jalapeno Pepper Membranes and Seeds Are Spicy!

If you like really spicy food, leave the inner membranes and seeds in your jalapeno peppers, and cook the peppers with the seeds still in them. If you don’t want your dish to be quite as spicy, remove the membranes and seeds before cooking. Your dish will still be flavorful, but the hotness will be reduced.

Red Vs. Green Jalapeno Peppers:

Most jalapeno peppers sold in grocery stores are green in color. Jalapeno peppers, when left to ripen until they reach full maturity, can turn red. Some people consider the red jalapenos to be inferior. I disagree, as long as the red jalapenos are not overripe to the point of decay. I like them either way. Jalapenos differ from bell peppers, but they do have similarities. In my opinion, red bell peppers are superior to green bell peppers; the red bell peppers are usually sweeter and more flavorful. Similarly, my perception has been that red jalapenos can taste more flavorful than their green counterparts do. The red jalapenos might be slightly sweeter, or “fruitier”.

Chipotle Peppers:

A chipotle pepper is a jalapeno pepper that has been smoked and / or dried. These flavorful chipotle peppers add zing to any meal.